Improvement in sash holders or fastenings



UNITED STATES PATENT GFT-Ton.

E. L. FERGUSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES B. CLARK, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SASH HOLDERS OR FASTENINGS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,505, dated November 6, 1866.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, E. L. FERGUSON, ofthe city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sash Supporter or Fastening; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- IFigure l is a back view of my improved fastener with a portion of the sash and window-frame to which itis attached broken away to exhibit the same. Fig. 2 is a front view, representing the sash in elevation and a portion of the window-frame broken away to show the fastening inserted therein. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the fastening device detached. Fig. 4. is a horizontal section through the sash, Window-frame, and upper portion of case D.

Like letters represent corresponding parts in all of the gures.

My invention relates to that class of selffastening locks by which both upper and lower sashl'naybe secured in anyposition desired and the latter firmly fastened down, and the improvement consists in a friction roller which traverses an inclined track, in combination with an arm passing through an inclined slot and attached to the said roller on the opposite side of the frame-plate for the purpose of releasing the sash; also, in the construction of the arm or lever, in combination with a stationary pin in the sash for fastening the latter down, arranged and operating as described.

As represented in the drawings, A is a portion of awindowfsash, and B a corresponding portion of the frame, in amortise in which the lock is secured, as shown, or in any other suitable manner. D is a plate or frame with ears or flanges e e, for securing the same in the frame by screws or otherwise, and also provided with a flange or track, g, and a slot, f, both inclining from a perpendicular toward the sash at its lower extremity, as clearly represented. His a friction-roller, whose axis z' extends loosely through the slot f, and has fastened to its end, on the opposite side of the plate D, a curved arm or lever, J, by which the roller is moved up the inclined track when it is required to release the sash from the pin o, as will be hereinafter described.

By the inclination of the iiange g a wedging-,space is formed between it and the edge of the sash, in which the roller H moves. This space, being narrowed at the bottom, causes the roller when it descends therein by its own weight and that of the arm J, to crowd the sash against the opposite side of the windowframe and there hold it by friction. The office of the arm j is to enable the roller to be pushed upward into the larger portion of the recess to release the sash and enable it to be lowered.

The end of the arm J is curved outwardly away from the sash, as shown at n, (most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4,) so as to allow the pin c, which projects a short distance from the lower sash, to pass the arm When the latter is moved in, as shown in Fig. l, by traversing under this curved lportion in raising or lowering the sash. The extreme en d of the arm may be provided with a knob or thumb piece, o, for more easily operating the same.

My lock is designed to be applied to both upper and lower sash. When used for the former the recess or curved part u and pin c are dispensed with, in which case the arm can be made shorter, so that only the knob o will be visible when in the position sho'wn in Fig. l.

The operation of my improvement is obvious. When it is required to unlock the under or lower the upper sash, the arm J is pressed in, Fig. l, which causes the roller to follow up the inclined slot and recede from contact with the edge of the sash. After the sash is raised or lowered to the desired position the armis released, when its weight with that of the roller causes the latter' to descend the track till it comes in contact with the edge of the sash, against which it is rmly wedged by the downward pressure and friction of the sash, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In closing the lower sash the pin c passes by the recess a in the end of the arm J till the sash has reached the bottom, when, as the arm is released, its gravity causes it to drop over the pin, assuming the position shown in Fig. 2, by which the sash is effectually fastened down, being held by the bar J, interposed above the pin. To unlock this sash the arm is pressed back till the pin will pass through the recess; but in other positions of the sashit is unnecessary to move itin raising either sash, but

in lowering them it is obvious that the roller must be held away from contact therewith.

The advantages of my improved fastener are its simplicity and cheapness of construction and non -liability to get out of' order; also, the secure and reliable fastening which is attained by its use, and the facility With which the lock can be secured on the sash.

Another advantage is the easy and automatic manner of lookin g, which enables either sash to be most readily secured in any. position desired without the labor and inconvenience of sliding the sash up and down the frame until it becomes lxed in one of the stops or arbitrary positions in which only the ordinary locks will sustain it.

The Wedging of the roller also secures the sash against any rattling or jarring by the Wind, while if the Wood is ever marred or Worn by its contact it is not visible, being concealed by the Window-strip.

The Weight of the sash acting on the rolle keeps it close against the opposite side of the frame, thereby preventing any sagging of one side, as is the case with sashes suspended at fixed intervals by a fastening on one side.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

l. The friction-roller H and loosely-pivoted arm J, in combination with the inclined track g and slot f of the plate D, or its equivalent, and sash A, arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the above-described device, the recess a and pin c, operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

E. L. FERGUSON.

Witnesses J AY HYATT, LYMAN P. PERKINS. 

